Nevus melanocytic, papillomatous nevus (photo). The borderline melanocytic nevus is ...

Almost every inhabitant of the Earth, who does not have a black skin, has at least one birthmark, in medicine called only nevus melanocytic. Somewhat unusual for the Russian language the word "nevus" is borrowed from Latin and means all the same birthmark or birthmark. In the process of life, for unknown reasons, there are new birthmarks where there was previously pure skin, and old ones disappear somewhere. Some people are frightened, others are uncomfortable, especially when dark spots begin to "decorate" the forehead, nose, cheeks. Let's try to understand what moles are, or, scientifically, nevuses, what they are, where they come from and whether they can somehow influence their appearance.

What is a nevus

In the skin of people and animals, there are special cells - melanocytes, which produce a dark pigment - melanin. In animals, it affects the color, determines the color of the eyes. In humans, it is melanin responsible for the intensity of sunburn, that is, protects against ultraviolet and other harmful rays to the body. When the pigment is evenly distributed over the skin cells, it has a uniform color, tone. If suddenly - for reasons unknown to science - in separate cells it accumulates an excessive amount, such areas on the general background begin to be allocated, that is, a birthmark appears, or a nevus pigmentary. Nevus melanocytic is the same. Still synonyms of the same concept - a nevus melaniform or non-cellular. The color of these formations varies from black to light brown, sometimes violet. If the birthmark of red (wine) color, it is called a flaming nevus and is formed due to a large accumulation of not a pigment, but capillaries too close to the surface of the skin. For example: a flaming nevus on the head and part of the forehead is in Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union.

Some people may be on the same level with the skin, others have a little more than a melanocytic nevus above it. The photo above shows a slightly protruding pigmentary nevus. Infants do not have such marks, although scientists tend to think that they are simply too small to be noticeable. They start to appear more distinctly somewhere from 9-10 years of age. In most cases, simple nevus pigments behave peacefully and do not cause any problems other than cosmetic defects.

Types of birthmarks

Melanocytic nevus of the skin can be of two types:

1. Congenital

In size, these pigmented formations are small (up to 1.5 cm in diameter), medium (up to 10 cm) and large, or giant (more than 10 cm). Congenital nevuses of any size with the growth of a child also increase in diameter. The most dangerous are the average nevi, large and giant, as they are most often regenerated into malignant melanomas. For what reasons babies with large and giant birthmarks are born, experts say it is difficult to say. According to statistics, about 5% of babies born with a giant nevus, develop skin cancer in the first year of life or slightly older. Therefore, parents who have babies born with large birthmarks should consult a specialist. If the giant nevus is located on the face, the doctor can recommend its discoloration with a laser, and if in other parts of the body - removal. The latter procedure is also recommended if the large birthmark has a dark color and a hilly surface.

2. Acquired

During life, pigmentation spots can appear on any part of the body, including the scalp, genitals, palms, soles of the feet. English scientists have found that a large number of moles reduce the risk of osteoporosis by about a factor of 2 and significantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and nevi resection into malignant melanomas is observed in about 16% of people with pigment marks.

Causes of the appearance of moles

Scientists in each case can not say why a nevus melanocytic appears in a person. But there are a number of common causes leading to pigmentation.

So, congenital birthmarks can appear if during pregnancy the following occurred:

1. Intrauterine infections (herpes, toxoplasmosis, smallpox and others).

2. Taking pregnant women with certain medicines.

3. Increased use of vitamin A.

4. Reception of alcohol.

5. Diabetes mellitus in pregnant women.

6. Lack of micronutrients.

7. Heredity. Very often already in DNA it is laid down, that the nevus melanocytic will appear at the child on a body in a certain place. And often hereditary birthmarks are identical in the baby and his mother or are very close to that.

The acquired nevus can appear for the following reasons:

1. Large doses of ultraviolet. Unregulated sunburn and excessive infatuation with a solarium provoke increased production of melanin pigment, which leads to the formation of moles.

2. Changes at the hormonal level. This includes any condition (illness, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, stress, and so on), in which there are hormonal failures. They, in turn, cause additional pigmentation of the skin, although in some cases, on the contrary, can lead to the disappearance of the already existing birthmarks.

3. Radiation.

4. X-ray.

5. Skin trauma. They can cause the movement of melanocytes closer to the surface of the skin, that is, the pigment spots become more noticeable.

Classification of moles

The medical names of nevuses sometimes cause some confusion. However, in fact, everything here is quite simple and logical. Human skin includes layers: the epidermis (closest to the surface), the dermis (middle, thickest) and hypodermis (the deepest). Depending on the location of the accumulation of melanocytes, the following types of pigment spots are distinguished:

- epidermal nevus (located in the upper layers of the skin - the epidermis);

- intradermal (correspondingly, the accumulation of melanocytes is observed in the deeper layer - the dermis);

- border melanocytic nevus (this is an increased amount of melanin between the epidermis and the dermis);

- hypodermal (the location of the pigment in the hypodermis) - this kind of nevi is externally virtually invisible, but under certain circumstances, melanocytes can move closer to the surface of the skin.

The structure and nature of manifestation are distinguished by the following types of nevi:

- complicated;

- atypical;

- returnable;

- papillomatous melanocytic nevus;

- Light blue;

- Mongolian spot;

- hairy (from the birthmark one or several hairs grow , more often of dark color, irrespective of, the blond person or the brunette).

- nevuses Setton, Clark, Spitz,

Let us consider in more detail some species.

What is the papillomatous intradermal melanocytic pigmentary nevus

In this long and somewhat difficult for the perception definition, several concepts are concluded at once. Thus, it has already been mentioned above that the terms "melanocytic" and "pigmented" mean the accumulation of melanin pigment in melanocytes, which produce it. Intradermal nevus essentially means the location of melanocyte accumulations in deeper layers of the skin and externally represents a tubercle protruding above its surface. Its synonym in medicine is the expression "intradermal melanocytic nevus". If it has a flesh color, moreover, and is located on the stalk, there is a great similarity with the papilloma. Hence the name - nevus papillomatous. Such formations appear mainly on the head (the scalp), neck, face, but can be observed on any other part of the body. Their color, in addition to the bodily, is brown, brown, black, and the small-hummocky structure resembles a cauliflower. In medicine, you can find other names for it, for example, a neural warty, linear, hyperkeratotic. There are two forms - organic, when papillomatous birthmarks are observed singly, and disseminated, when there are many such warty tubercles. Often they are located where large blood vessels and nerve vessels pass. If a person has such a regularity, it can indicate the diseases of the central nervous system, in particular epilepsy. Although the papillomatous intradermal melanocytic nevus of the skin, appearing with a birth, constantly grows gradually, it is referred to benign melanoma-hazardous species of pigmented formations. Despite this, it must certainly be shown to a dermatologist, to find out whether it is nevus, papilloma or melanoma. It is especially important to see a doctor if the papillomatous birthmark suddenly starts to hurt, itch or change color. When establishing the diagnosis, the doctor conducts a visual inspection, and if necessary, does siascopy, ultrasound, biopsy.

Complex melanocytic nevus

This definition is used when the mole, born in the epidermis, grows into the dermis. Outwardly, it looks a bit like a wart, with a diameter not exceeding 1 cm. Like other types of nevi, the complex is considered benign, however, according to medical statistics, in more than 50% of cases it can be transformed into melanoma. Therefore, it is classified as melanoma-dangerous formations. By its structure, the complex nevus can be smooth, bumpy, hairy, warty, and in color more often dark - from brown to black.

Atypical nevus

It is believed that about one in ten people have on the skin atypical or dysplastic melanocytic nevus. The photo above shows how it might look. This name is given birthmarks due to its fuzzy, as it were blurred boundaries, asymmetry, size (as a rule, they exceed 6 mm), dissimilarity to other moles. In color, atypical nevuses can be very different - from light beige or pink to dark brown. In medicine, there is a synonym for this pigmentation - Clark's nevus. If you find yourself in such a strange birthmark, you should always consult a doctor to make sure there is no melanoma. Doctors believe that atypical nevi in themselves do not pose a health hazard, but people who have them are at risk for developing skin cancer, not necessarily at the spot of the pigmentation spot. During life, atypical nevi, like any other, can disappear on their own, but this is not an excuse for excluding a person from the risk group.

Return nevus

The so-called pigment spots appearing on the place where the birthmark was removed. The return nevus, as a rule, means that the tissues of the birthmark have not been removed completely and a second operation is required.

Nevus Spitz

This is another pigmented formation, due to the presence of which people fall into the risk group for the onset of melanoma. Appear on the skin are such birthmarks more often in children under 10 years of age, but adults from them are also not insured. A distinctive feature of nevus Spitz is its rapid growth. So, suddenly appearing on the skin, in just a few months, it can increase in diameter from a couple of millimeters to a centimeter or more. Another of his unpleasant traits is that he can give metastasises to adjacent areas of the skin and lymph nodes. But, despite this, in most cases, Spitz nevi are considered benign and easily amenable to timely treatment.

Neville Settona

Sometimes on the body appear birthmarks with a white border along the edge. They bear two names - the Setanton melanocytic nevus and the halo-nevus. Some people have such formations, others may have many, mostly on the back. White fringe, according to scientists, is caused by the fact that the cells in it are destroyed by cells of the immune system. Over the years, Setton's nevus can discolor completely or completely disappear, leaving a bright spot for memory. In the overwhelming majority of cases, these fringed moles are not dangerous. But scientists have found that their presence, especially in large numbers, may be due to the presence of their owner of diseases such as vitiligo and thyroiditis, or melanoma, which has not yet shown itself.

Nevus Becker

This birthmark in its dimensions resembles a nevus melanocytic giant. Approximately in a quarter of cases, this pigmentation occurs in the fetus even in the womb. A distinctive feature of Becker's nevuses are:

- growth of hairs on them;

- rash of acne on them;

- increase in size until a certain point, then stop growing and some lightening of the color.

Most often such birthmarks remain with a person for life. They do not represent the dangers, but their owners from time to time should still be shown to the dermatologist.

How dangerous are birthmarks

Some people are sure that moles can eventually develop into melanoma or other types of skin cancer. However, this is wrong. In the overwhelming majority of cases, any birthmark (or nevus melanocytic) does not threaten anything. To worry and immediately rush to the doctor (dermatologist, oncologist) it is necessary, if suddenly with the mole the following changes began to occur:

- its color has changed, all the same, in which direction;

- it became asymmetric (for example, convex on one side);

- the color or texture of the birthmark of the birthmark has changed;

- the mole began to ache, itch, bleed;

- sharply increased the size of the birthmark.

In all cases, if the newly born mole differs from existing ones, or the old one suddenly becomes somehow unusual, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What to do with moles?

If the nevuses in no way and do not annoy, and also if they are located in the safe areas of the skin, you just need to watch them. If they are located where they can often be traumatized (on the palms, on the soles of the feet, on the neck, on the head, at the waist) or on the face, which causes cosmetic defects, they are recommended to be removed. To entrust such operations is necessary only to doctors - surgeon, dermatologist. It is recommended to remove epidermal nevuses only by surgery. It is performed under local anesthesia, so it is painless. Papillomatous melanocytic nevus of the skin, especially located on the stalk, is sometimes more appropriate to remove with liquid nitrogen. In recent years, laser treatment of moles and their excision with a radio knife have also been successfully applied.

After surgery, the doctor usually sends the removed fragments to a histological examination to be completely sure of the absence of cancer.

It is absolutely unacceptable to remove nevuses on their own, folk methods. Especially often people try to get rid of papillomatous nevuses on legs, bandaging them with a thread. This leads to the overlap of blood access to the mole, and it can really fall away. But in most cases this method of "treatment" provokes the development of changes in the cells of the epidermis or dermis and leads to disastrous consequences.